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(Probably been asked a lot but) Programming?

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King Tut
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(Probably been asked a lot but) Programming?

Where should I start if I want to try some programming? (Web or actual programs or whatever)

Ryan McCue
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Depends

Web: PHP
Windows, i.e. EXEs: Try C++, Delphi or something.
With all, it's personal preference.
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TaffinFoxcroft
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personally, I'd reccomend

personally, I'd reccomend NSIS as its simple & free.
try modifying one of the launcher's code to make your own portable app. thats always a good way to learn.

But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.

m2
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I'm definitely against

I'm definitely against learning NSIS as the first programming language.
Why?
It's not a programming language. It can be used to create programs, but it lacks features that were standard 40 years ago.
- structures
- loops
More modern things:
- objects!!! It's a standard now, object programming is way more natural than unstructured one - the only possible with NSIS.
- terrible WINAPI support

Being a language for creation of installers caused another drawback for programmers - it's interpreted...but can't be interpreted directly, you always have to wrap it to executable stub. It combines disadvantages of scripts and compiled languages, but doesn't give anything positive. It's interpreted => programs are slow. It has to be compiled => you have to spend several additional seconds every time you want to test changes you made to your code. Furthermore, it's "compiler" is really slow...

It also does not teach good habits - advice new programmers to learn NSIS and soon we'll have a bloat of spaghetti code.

"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov

Bahamut
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NSIS is designed to make installers

The language is designed for installers, and works quite well for them. For general apps, though, it's horrible.

Being a language for creation of installers caused another drawback for programmers - it's interpreted...but can't be interpreted directly, you always have to wrap it to executable stub.
NSIS executables aren't interpreted. That's the whole point of compilation. NSIS is not required to run the apps. In fact, Java is the only language I know of that uses interpreted binaries.

Vintage!

m2
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Actually Java is

Actually Java is compiled..bud compiled for JVM instead of x86 or so. Similarly C# and .NET.
NSIS *is not* compiled. Neither are AutoHotkey and AutoIt. There are also "compilers" for batches that work this way.

"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov

Bahamut
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Java classes are compiled,

Java classes are compiled, but still interpreted.
NSIS *is not* compiled.
Yes it is. NSIS executables can be executed just like executables written in C, C++, x86, etc. once compiled.

Vintage!

m2
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I'll write it for the 3rd time.

I'll write it for the 3rd time. It is not compiled, you can call it pseudo-compilation. This process generates a valid PE 32 executable. But the executable is not the compiled program - it's an INSTALLER and in it's code there's nothing about the script. The script is attached to it just like files to be installed are - in the installer's overlay data. The installer decompresses the script and then interprets it.

"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov

paladin225
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...

So it compiles itself an interpreter?

My head is spinning... Pardon

Rick Smith // Paladin225

Rick Smith // Paladin225

m2
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The process that starts when

The process that starts when you ask makensis(w) to compile the "program" is not a compilation.
The words below may not be fully correct, possibly there's something more than I say. But nothing major.

The interpreter is not created then - it sits in your stubs directory. Makensis(w) just checks it the script is correct, then and compresses and attaches it ( together with files mentioned there to be installed ) to the correct stub.

"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov

Pazy
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Ill post this hear

Ill post this hear since id get moaned at for not using search if i make a new thread Blum
I was thinking of attempting (heavy emphasis on attempting) to learn a programming language. Im completely new to programming all I have done is a very basic Quiz program, in 4th year of school, in Visual Basic. I need one which is widely used, easy to learn and cross platform since I mainly use Linux but i should learn a Windows one for my college course as well.
Help would be much appreciated.

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